International Students

GRTS Welcomes Applicants From All Over the World

International students are a vital part of the GRTS community. we have enrolled students from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Honduras, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, the Philippines, Romania, South Korea, Sudan, and Chad. We want you to have an excellent experience from the time you express interest in GRTS until you graduate and continue to serve the Lord through your life and ministry.

Please read through the following information to gain a full understanding of the application process that we have designed to serve you and to meet all regulations.

Note: In an effort to facilitate a smooth transition to GRTS, we encourage international students to begin their degree programs during the fall semester (September).

Application Process

1. Pre-Application: Complete the pre-application form online or fill out the hard copy and submit it to GRTS admissions at seminary@cornerstone.edu. You will be prompted to continue the application process once we have received and approved your pre-application form.

2. Official Application: Once your pre-application form has been approved, complete the official admission application and all supporting documents, including the ministry reference form, personal reference form and scholarship application. All international students are considered for the Timothy Scholarship, which would cover a portion of your costs.

3. Financial Support Form: Fill out the International Student Certification of Finances. This form will serve as evidence that you have financial support through the date you expect to complete your degree program. You must submit letters of support from each contributing organization or individual. Each supporter must also submit three months’ worth of bank statements to demonstrate their ability to meet their commitment. These bank statements should be from the most recent three months.

4. Transcripts: Educational Credential Evaluators Inc. must evaluate your transcripts. ECE will convert your test scores into their USA equivalents. You can contact ECE through their Web site, or GRTS can mail you a transcript evaluation application.

5. TOEFL Scores: International students who are not lifetime residents of Australia, Canada (other than Quebec), New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States (other than Puerto Rico) must demonstrate their English language proficiency by submitting Test of English as a Foreign Language scores. The TOEFL must be taken within one year of the admission application date. GRTS requires a minimum TOEFL score of 577 written, 90 Internet based or 233 computer based for admission. Click here to register for the TOEFL, or mail: TOEFL, P.O. Box 6154, Princeton, N.J. 80541-6154, USA. The GRTS TOEFL institution code is 1253.

6. Tuition Deposit: Once we have accepted you for admission, you must send a tuition deposit of at least the cost of your first semester’s tuition and fees. This will be a $5,000 payment for the 2011-2012 academic year. This total includes a tuition deposit, registration fee and $100 for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System processing fee. If for any reason you do not enroll as planned, we will return all of the funds to you or your supporters immediately except for the $100 SEVIS fee.

7. Student Visa: After receiving your tuition deposit, we will send you a Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. This form is more commonly called the I-20. You can then apply for your student visa at your country’s consulate offices. You will need the following documents in addition to the I-20:

a valid passport, which must be valid six months past the last date you expect to be in the USA (your expected time of graduation);
proof of sufficient finances, which is your a) completed student financial support form, b) letters of support from each supporter and c) copies of bank statements verifying that those funds are available
proof of English proficiency, which may be either citizenship in an English-speaking country or TOEFL scores.

8. Registration: Please inform the Admissions office at seminary@cornerstone.edu or 616.222.1559 once you have received your student visa. At that time, we will register you for classes for the fall semester (registration begins in mid-March). We will also invite you to attend new student orientation.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is available to all GRTS students who enroll in at least five credit hours per fall and spring semester. Optional coverage for your spouse and/or children is also available. International students must maintain coverage through the school’s provider. The open enrollment period for health insurance is during the first four weeks of each fall and spring semester. Please contact GRTS Admissions for coverage costs and details.

Employment

International students may apply for on-campus jobs as they become available. You will not be able to work more than 20 hours per week (even if employed in more than one job) and will only be allowed a work position if you will not displace a U.S. citizen, as stipulated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regulations. The Admissions office will assist you in applying for a U.S. Social Security number, which you need to begin working. Off-campus employment is only possible on an extremely limited basis in the event of financial distress. In such a case, you would need to apply with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.